Author: acceso

Architectural Studio in Alicante: When is it better to carry out a reform?

It is very normal that during the life of a chalet or when buying a second-hand chalet, there is a need to carry out interior renovation works that include the change of finishing materials and facilities. There are also cases in which it is necessary to carry out extension works because the construction is not completely adapted to our needs. When is it better to carry out a reform?

Reasons for a renovation

There are many reasons and they are usually related to changes in the needs of its inhabitants. It may be that the family has grown, it may be that you want to install an elevator since with the passage of time its inhabitants are aging. It is normal that the reason can be merely aesthetic because, for example, the owner does not like the decoration, tiles and pavements any longer.

When is it better to carry out a reform? What is the ideal season to carry out a renovation?

To make an ideal choice of which season is better to do renovations in a house, we must start with the type of work we are going to do.

Extension work in single-family homes or villas in Costa Blanca

In this case, two types of extensions should be distinguished. If the work is a lateral extension, that is to say on one side of the currently existing construction or it is an extension from above, that is, extending a floor or extending the current upper floor.

In both cases, the works must be carried out in the dry season, preventing the rain from damaging the new construction and also the existing one.

In the case of a lateral extension, the interior of the current home would not be affected by the work, except for a little noise and dust disturbance; but it can be a big problem to open the foundations of the new extension next to the current house.

If it rains during the process in which the foundation is being open, it is very possible that later on we will have problems of fissures or cracks due to settlement. This situation can occur regardless of whether we have left a constructive joint between the two parts of the construction, or on the contrary we have adopted a system of tying the two constructions, in foundation and structure, so that in theory they were one.

If the land where the house is located is clayey, like most of the buildings in the area of Alicante, and it rains, the support of the new foundation will be softer than the old one, which will lead to differential settlements between the two parts of the construction.

In the case of extending the upper part, it is also necessary to do it during the dry season, because this type of extension requires lifting the roof or the upper terrace to make the extension, and also to leave a gap for the staircase that communicates the two floors.

It will not be a problem of settlement, like the previous one, but an intense rain such as those that fall down in Costa Blanca will saturate all partitions and furniture if the necessary measures are not taken.

Interior renovations of single-family homes or chalets in Costa Blanca

If the intended works are interior renovations, such as change of pavement, painting, change of kitchen furniture or change of the bathrooms, the time of the year chosen to do this type of work is unimportant.

Perhaps, due to the strong temperatures of the summer period, it would be convenient to avoid doing works at that time. But, for the rest of the year, it is not very important when the work is done.

However, be it an extension work or an internal renovation, it must be borne in mind that most of the town halls have very specific ordinances that limit the works that can be done in summer, the type of machinery that cannot be used due to the noise, discomfort and dust problems that can be caused to neighbors.

Arquifach, architectural studio in Alicante, is takes charge of the renovation of your villa in Costa Blanca.

Contact Arquifach, Alicante architectural studio, without commitment. We study the feasibility of your project and provide advice on the renovation of new single-family homes or tourist apartment buildings. We are supported by a specialized team in Costa Blanca. Arquifach takes charge of the whole project: its design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and advise in general.

6 September, 2018
Architecture Alicante: Casa Carbonell

Discover Costa Blanca through Arquifach, architectural studio Alicante

Costa Blanca is a land rich in culture that holds many architectural gems to discover. In the blog of Arquifach, architectural studio in Alicante, we will visit some of its architectural treasures, monuments and most characteristic buildings.

Alicante and Costa Blanca, architectural richness: Casa Carbonell

Casa Carbonell is an emblematic building in Alicante, located at number 2 of the Spain Promenade that occupies a complete block. It was built by J. Vidal Ramos during the 1920s at the request of the bourgeois Enrique Carbonell, a fabric manufacturer. This building represents the aspirations of the bourgeoisie of the time: ornamented facade and use of noble materials with privileged views.

Although currently it is filled with commercial premises, offices and homes; it was a building devoted to the textile manufacture that represented the bourgeois aspirations and the enrichment of the textile industry during the First World War.

Its facade is divided into three parts separated by the towers and is based on the concept of symmetry and hierarchy. Its French-style ornamentation is full of classic elements. It highlights the use of noble materials such as sandstone in the base, marble in the foyer, iron and glass in locks and canopies, or the simulated cover slate.

Currently, this building is still one of the most emblematic in Alicante and is the protagonist of a large number of tourist postcards in the city.

Alicante and Costa Blanca: living standards

Due to its cultural wealth and paradisiacal essence, Alicante is one of the most chosen destinations to live or build a holiday home. It is a city that has managed to preserve its beauty and its living standards despite tourism and modern life. Alicante has a multitude of corners, villages and cozy towns where to design custom-made homes where to take root and increase living standards. With an unbeatable climate of sun 300 days a year, we can find coves, beaches and natural landscapes that can be the dreamed environment where building a new home.

Arquifach, architectural studio in Alicante, helps you design your home in Alicante

The professional team of Arquifach – architectural studio in Costa Blanca, has more than 40 years of experience in the construction, architectural and urban planning sectors and is led by architect Manuel Cabrera. Arquifach offers a 360-day service, specialized in different architectural fields, such as: design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and general advice.

Arquifach, architectural studio in Alicante, accompanies its clients throughout the construction process, from start to finish. The mission of our Architectural Studio is to make the project an easy process that leads to total customer satisfaction. Arquifach architectural studio has a network of suppliers and partners to manage all projects with professionalism and efficiency.

Contact Arquifach, architectural studio in Alicante without commitment. We study the feasibility of your project and provide advice on the construction of new single-family homes or tourist apartment buildings. We are supported by a specialized team in Costa Blanca.

*Notes:

Photos by: Sarah Mooring (https://www.flickr.com/photos/madcatwoman/ Photo of Casa Carbonell’s facade)

References: http://www.alicanteturismo.com/casa-carbonell-alicante/

http://www.viajes.net/europa/espa%C3%B1a/alicante/arquitectura/casacarbonell

13 August, 2018
Arquifach, Architectural Studio in Costa Blanca: Modern Villas
Today, modern architecture is one of the most demanded architectural styles for the construction of chalets, villas or single-family homes in Costa Blanca. To know a little more about the beginning of this style, it is necessary to name one of its founders: Le Corbusier. He was a French architect known as the main protagonist of the international architectural renovation of the twentieth century. He stated that the house should be at the service of life: “The house is a living machine, bathrooms, sun, hot and cold water, adjustable temperature, conservation of food, hygiene, beauty through convenient proportions.”

Le Corbusier established five basic principles that are still taken into account today and became the basis of architectural rationalism:
- Use of supporting elements
- Roof gardens
- Free conformation of plants
- Continuous windows
- Free facade formation
Each and every one of these points within the geometric order to achieve what he called “pure volumes.” His purpose was to merge nature with technological development. This goal is and remains one of the basic principles of Arquifach, architectural studio, moving it to a unique environment such as Costa Blanca.

Villa La Roche: One of the first houses with a modern architectural style

This house was built in Paris during the second decade of the XX century at the request of Le Corbusier.

Its design supposes a rupture of the classic hierarchy based on the movement. The Villa was planned taking into account the vegetation that surrounded the environment and all the surrounding trees were kept. Its composition is based on two rectangular volumes that together form a 90º angle. One of the blocks is characterized by a broad curved front.

Its totally white facade contrasts with the variety of intense colors of its interior, harmonizing with the asymmetrical spaces and the volumes that are kept inside where we find double heights, interior balconies and ramps that divide the space without breaking the balance of the Villa.

Architectural principles of Arquifach for the construction of modern villas

Adaptation to the landscape: it consists of respecting the environment where the construction is located and integrating into the land the most efficient way possible. Houses must adapt to the land and be integrated into its slopes and its peculiarities.

White exteriors: reflecting light and reducing heat inside buildings. Special coatings that isolate the high temperatures are also necessary.

Glass walls: one of the main characteristics of the Mediterranean area is light and that clarity should be transferred to the design of the spaces by transforming the walls into glass through continuous windows.

Geometric volumes: located on the outside and inside to divide and adapt the spaces to the needs of the client.

The Modern Villas of Arquifach: architectural studio in Costa Blanca

CASA NADIA

A modern and futuristic 330 m2 house with four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a toilet, plus a large living room with open kitchen, a large terrace with porch and infinity pool.

VILLA COMPLETA IN CALPE

A Modern architecture 370m2 house with a gym and a garage in its basement, three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a toilet. BBQ and large terrace with pool.

VILLA LA CANUTA

A single-family house and pool of a total of 385.80m2 built.

Your chalet o single-family home with a pool in Costa Blanca

Contact Arquifach, Alicante architectural studio in Costa Blanca. We are specialists in the construction of chalets and single-family homes with a modern architecture. We study the feasibility of your project and offer advice on the construction of new single-family homes or tourist apartment buildings. We are supported by a specialized team in Costa Blanca. Arquifach deals with finding the plot suitable for each client’s needs, complying with the municipal regulations. We take charge of the whole project: its design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and advise in general.

*Notes:
Photos by: Steve Cadman (https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevecadman/ Villa la Roche: photo of the interior and windows)/ Fred Romero
(https://www.flickr.com/photos/129231073@N06/ Villa la Roche: photo of curved facade and photo of the interior)
References: article (https://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/cl/02-195627/clasicos-de-arquitectura-villa-roche-le-corbusier)
31 July, 2018
Alicante Architects: How to do a Renovation of a Single-family Home or Villa

I want to do a renovation work. Do I have to ask for a license?

In many cases, right after buying a second-hand house, a house or an apartment we think about doing some renovations to adapt it to our needs or tastes. In addition to hiring a builder to do the work, what other actors are involved in the process? Do I have to ask for a license? How much can “paperwork” cost?

What many people do not know is that there is always a license to be asked for any type of work, be it a renovation, a change of facilities, painting, a change in the woodwork, or any other aesthetics or architectural change in the house.

Are all licenses the same?

To answer this question, it is essential to distinguish if it is a major work or minor work, because depending on whether it is of one type or another, the path is different.

According to judgments of the Supreme Court, in the case of renovation works, the difference between a major work and a minor work is that a major work affects the structure and (or) the facades, including the roof as a facade. The rest of the works can be considered a minor work.

Despite this clear definition, we must bear in mind that each city council has its criteria to define what type of work is greater or lesser, and based on this classification, the path is different. Therefore, it is advised to go the Town Hall where the construction is intended to be developed and ask for information.

What are the requirements for a major work?

In the case of a major work, the project and direction of the architect and the quantity surveyor will be needed, as well as the payment of the license and municipal taxes. In both cases: the technicians fees and municipal license fees are based on the cost of the work which is, in turn, calculated on the square meters of the renovation area.

In some cases, the builder is responsible for these procedures before the town hall, and may hire technicians at his expense, if necessary. It is very important that before starting the work, the builder, if he has been responsible for processing the license, delivers a copy of it to us due to two reasons. The first one is to justify that the property was licensed and, the second one, because a copy of the license will be required by a municipal inspector if they come to supervise the work.

What are the requirements for a minor work?

In the case of a minor work, in principle, technician intervention is not needed and the processing of the license is simpler and faster. Again, it must be said that each town hall has its own system of pricing and processing. There are town halls where the license is automatically granted by only paying said license through by the self-assessment method.

“Self-assessment” means that the owner who wants to do the renovation work, picks up a form at the town hall, fills it out and depending on the square feet and the intended work, an amount to pay for the license appears and must paid in a bank.

Arquifach, Alicante Architects, takes charge of your chalet renovation in Costa Blanca

Contact Arquifach, Alicante architectural studio, without commitment. We study the feasibility of your project and offer advice on the renovation of new single-family homes or tourist apartment buildings. We are supported by a specialized team in Costa Blanca. Arquifach deals with all the process and planning of the renovation adapting it to the needs of the client and complying with the municipal regulations.

26 July, 2018
Alicante Architectural Studio: construction of a pool in chalets or single-family homes with an own plot.

This week in Arquifach’s blog (Alicante Architectural Studio), will be talk about an issue on which we receive many queries from clients: how to propose the private pools of chalets or single-family homes with a plot of their own.

Evolution of pools in single-family homes in Costa Blanca

The quality, the type of construction, the architecture design and the needs program has been changing over the last 50 years. The tourist upturn on the Costa Blanca, and in Spain in general, began in the mid-60s when French or Northern Europe tourists began to discover a Spanish coast without constructions, with a very benign weather, a quiet country, and very cheap prices compared to its purchasing power.

Normally, villas were built as single-family homes of around 90/100m2 with an unfinished garden, interior plots of between 500m2 and 1000m2 and, of course, without a pool. Instead, the beach was the reason for the tourists to come to the coast. Most of the houses at that time have no pool or were built later.

From the 80’s, when the owner of the construction of a single-family home included the pool within its initial project. The system of construction of the pools was initially based on concrete walls, formwork, walls with filled concrete block or solid brick. In all cases, pools should have an interior waterproofing and a ceramic tile finish.

Little by little, the projected gunning or concreting system was imposed. It is made on the basis of projecting the concrete on the walls and the bottom of the pool, prior placement of the reinforcement and part of the installation to be embedded, such as sinks, impellers, spotlights, etc.

How are pools currently built?

Currently, it can be said that 100% of the pools are made through this system. Initially, a dry method based on a machine installed “in situ” which is primed by the operators with cement, sand and little water that is added during the gunning process when projected with compressed air. In some cases, other secondary components such as setting accelerators are usually added.

This mixture is projected little by little, at the speed that two operators add the materials and another one projects the concrete on the walls and bottom of the pool. This system was tedious and slow, and it took up labor for a couple of days.

This method produces a lot of dust, since the mixture is almost dry and, as it was already said, is very slow.

In the other system, the wet method, the three ingredients: cement, sand and water are mixed at the same time and the mixture is projected. The more fluid the mixture, the greater its efficiency, and a normal pool of 4m x 8m can be completed in a morning.

Can a pool be built on all soils?

The law of the Soil in Spain limits the constructions of swimming pools in some cases like those built in rustic soil. According to its definition, it is a soil categorized as common or protected. However, the regulations governing construction on rural land correspond to municipalities and autonomies. As we have already anticipated, there are restrictions, but it should not be forbidden and we must go to the Town Hall to clarify doubts. In other articles, we have already seen the importance of the urban report in the purchase of a plot.

Arquifach, Alicante Architectural Studio, helps you to get your own chalet o single-family home with a pool in Costa Blanca

Contact Arquifach, Alicante architectural Studio, without obligation. We study the feasibility of your project and offer advice on the construction of new single-family homes or tourist- apartment buildings. It has the support of a specialized team in Costa Blanca. Arquifach is in charge of finding the plot adapted to the needs of each client, complying with municipal regulations. We take over the entire project: its design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and advice in general.

13 July, 2018
Alicante Arquitects: Factors to build a healthy home in Costa Blanca
At Arquifach, Alicante Arquitects, we are aware of the impact the environment has on the health and well-being of people. We are what we breathe and what we live. Therefore, part of the mission of Arquifach, Alicante Arquitects, is to design and build houses that contribute and even enhance the life and health of their inhabitants.

There are many factors that affect the suitability of the construction of a villa or chalet. We want to highlight the following ones:

Where to build a healthy home?

As we have mentioned before, the choice of the plot to build is an important decision. Before doing so, several aspects that can affect our health must be taken into account. Among them is radiation. It can be artificial, generated by high-voltage lines or antennas; or environmental, generated by environmental toxicants lodged in the soil, air or water. Controlling these aspects through a previous study will facilitate the subsequent work of design and construction of a house. Arquifach, Alicante Arquitects, helps you choose the ideal land for the construction of your healthy home.

Protection, a key aspect in healthy homes

It is crucial including the creation of barriers that protect against possible external aggressions in the planning of the building.
1. Noise control: our home should be a haven of peace to relax and get quiet. For this reason, it is necessary to take measures to make the interior noise as low as possible. Ideally, all outdoor noise should be below 35db.
2. Security: Fire protocols and a possible private security system should be considered.
3. Controlled humidity: the planning should consider the sources of humidity close to the ground and control condensation points.
4. Temperature control: it must be considered within the comfort standards and not be affected by external temperature contrasts. Measures can be taken such as establishing window efficiency, isolating doors, using materials that protect against extreme temperatures, and installing efficient cooling systems.
Enhancement of the exterior and the interior: these are the aspects to be taken into account:
1. Air quality: materials should be selected to ensure that their chemical emissions are as low as possible.
2. Water quality: water must be fit for consumption as established by regulations. A proper purification system is essential.
3. Ventilation: it is imperative that the air is renewed and the ventilation rate is met or even exceeded. Therefore, air recirculation outlets should be located away from possible contamination sources.
4. Light as a protagonist: one of the main characteristics of the Mediterranean area is light, and that clarity should be considered in the design of spaces. Whether artificial, natural or combined, light must be sufficient to perform tasks without getting dazzled.
5. Views: The Costa Blanca offers incredible landscapes. Both the choice of the plot and the design of the house must take advantage of them.
Outdoor spaces are part of a healthy home

Costa Blanca invites you to have outdoor spaces with a multitude of possibilities. They can be sites that serve as a union with nature and the environment, or perhaps family and leisure areas to carry out different activities. Whatever it is, it is vital to know and plan how the outdoor space of the home we will be since there is where we will also spend a lot of the time. The accesses to the interior must be organized as well as facilitating the circulation. The weather will greatly mark the creation process. The orientation of light must be taken into account in order to make the most of natural light.

How to design and build a healthy home by Arquifach:
1. Analyze the land thoroughly: its orography, climate and resources.
2. Decide the factors to enhance on the land, such as the views to the environment or natural light.
3. Determine the aspects that can affect health and take the most effective measures to counteract them. For example, streams of groundwater or possible noise or environmental pollution.
4. Take into account the current and future needs of its inhabitants.
Arquifach, Alicante Arquitects, designs and builds your chalet or single-family healthy home in Costa Blanca

Contact Arquifach, Alicante architectural studio, without obligation. We study the feasibility of your project and offer advice on the construction of new single-family homes or tourist- apartment buildings. It has the support of a specialized team in Costa Blanca. Arquifach is in charge of finding the plot adapted to the needs of each client, complying with municipal regulations. We take over the entire project: its design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and advice in general.
13 July, 2018